Cast and chiseled silver hilt featuring large single side ring
of ribbed diamond-section with central opposing artichoke buds. Protruding from
the obverse of the quillon block are three down-turned diagonal bars ending in
artichoke finials; reverse quillon block decorated with acanthus in relief.
Hollow grip of intertwined rope work; pommel of artichoke form with long button.
The delicate parts of the hilt are reinforced with iron bars, visible behind the
slender stems. Slender 32" double-edged blade of hexagonal section with 9"
central fuller, pierced with geometric designs and stamped with several small
marks at the ricasso. Blade lightly pitted. Overall length 38 ½". Likely a
one-of-a-kind piece, which would be proudly displayed in the finest museum
collections.

Gottfried Christian Leygebe (1630-1683) of Nuremberg was a
highly acclaimed sculptor and metal worker. In 1645 he travelled to Nuremberg to
train as an armourer with Albrecht Liechtmann. He specialized in engraving in
iron, made contact with Georg Pfründt, an artist experienced in this technique,
and developed into one of the best medalists and die-cutters of his time.
Leygebe had his own workshop by 1653. In 1668 he was appointed Medallist, Coiner
and Sculptor to Prince Friedrich Wilhelm, the Elector of Brandenburg. He
specialized in custom sword hilts for the aristocracy and wealthy merchants such
as the directors of the VOC (Dutch East India Company). A sword in Skokloster
Castle, Sweden features a very similar skeleton hilt with identical intertwined
knot work. That sword is pictured in the 1945 booklet published by the
Tojhusmuseum, Copenhagen entitled "Der Schwertfeger Gottfried Leygebe", by Ada
Bruhn, Fig. 19.